The Beauty of the Unplanned: How I Create Depth and Texture in My Original Landscapes
A watercolor practice session using salt, bubble wrap, plastic, and scraping.
In our daily lives, we often strive for order and routine. But in art, at least the way I make it, it’s the "imperfections" and the layers that hold the most beauty.
When I’m in my studio in Western North Carolina, I spend a lot of time playing with the organic nature of watercolor. I don’t just paint a mountain; I cultivate a landscape that feels like it has a history.
For the collector, understanding these textures isn't about learning a "trick"—it’s about seeing the care and the "happy accidents" that make an original piece of art feel alive. Here is a look at the four ways I bring soulful texture into the work I create for your home.
1. The Organic Movement of Salt
Salt is a beautiful metaphor for letting go of control. When I sprinkle salt onto wet watercolor, it draws the pigment into crystalline, star-like patterns. In my landscapes, this often becomes the suggestion of a distant frost or the sparkle of light on a lake. It adds a grit and a reality that a flat wash of color simply cannot provide.
2. The Soft Diffusion of Alcohol
By using alcohol to move the paint, I can create "cells" and soft, circular blooms. This mimics the way light filters through a canopy of trees or the way mist settles into a valley. It creates a sense of air and breath within the painting, turning a static image into a living "vibe" for your space.
3. Creating History with Lifting and Scraping
Sometimes, the most beautiful part of a painting is what I take away. By lifting paint or scraping the paper, I reveal the "history" of the piece. This mimics the weathering of the Appalachian mountains I see outside my window—the way time and nature wear things down into something even more stunning.
4. The Depth of Bubbles
Texture isn't always physical; sometimes it's visual depth. By laying down bubble wrap, parts of the wet paint collect and pool in visually interesting “bubble” patterns.
Bringing Texture into Your Sanctuary
Notice the varied textures in this 2023 piece.
When you choose an original piece of art, you are choosing to live with these layers. A textured, intentional painting acts as a focal point that grounds a room, giving your eyes a place to rest and your soul a place to wander.
If you’re ready to move beyond "flat" decor and want to understand how the right piece of art can completely shift the energy of your home, I’ve created a resource specifically for you.
Make it stand out
Learn how original layered landscape artwork can add peace and stillness to your home.
This free guide is your introduction to using art intentionally to add stillness and create a space and presence at home. Explore the influence of colors, textures, shapes, and thoughtful placement. You deserve a space that feels like sanctuary.
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